Wellerman chords by Nathan Evans (Official Version)

GuitarPianoUkulele

Ab
Eb
Fm
Cm
Gm
Ab/C
Eb/Bb
Fm/Ab

Verse 1

There once was a ship that put to sea

The name of the ship was the Billy o' Tea

The winds blew up, her bow dipped down

Chorus 1
Oh blow, my bully boys, blow (huh)
Ab 
Eb 
 (A flat major) Soon may the  (E flat major) Wellerman come
Fm 
Cm 
To  (F minor) bring us sugar and  (C minor) tea and rum
Ab 
Eb 
 (A flat major) One day, when the  (E flat major) tonguing is done
Gm 
Cm 
We'll  (G minor) take our leave and  (C minor) go

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Verse 2

She'd not been two weeks from shore

When down on her a right whale bore

The captain called all hands and swore

Chorus 2
He'd take that whale in tow (huh)
Ab 
Eb 
 (A flat major) Soon may the  (E flat major) Wellerman come
Fm 
Cm 
To  (F minor) bring us sugar and  (C minor) tea and rum
Ab 
Eb 
 (A flat major) One day, when the  (E flat major) tonguing is done
Gm 
Cm 
We'll  (G minor) take our leave and  (C minor) go

Interlude 1

Da da da- da da da

Da- da da da da-da- da da da

Da da da- da da da

Da- da da da da da

Verse 3

Before the boat had hit the water

The whale's tail came up and caught her

All hands to the side,

harpooned and fought her

Chorus 3
When she dived down low (huh)
Ab 
Eb 
 (A flat major) Soon may the  (E flat major) Wellerman come
Fm 
Cm 
To  (F minor) bring us sugar and  (C minor) tea and rum
Ab 
Eb 
 (A flat major) One day, when the  (E flat major) tonguing is done
Gm 
Cm 
We'll  (G minor) take our leave and  (C minor) go

Verse 4

No line was cut, no whale was freed

The captain's mind was not of greed

And he belonged to the Whaleman's creed

Chorus 4
She took that ship in tow (huh)
Ab 
Eb 
 (A flat major) Soon may the  (E flat major) Wellerman come
Fm 
Cm 
To  (F minor) bring us sugar and  (C minor) tea and rum
Ab 
Eb 
 (A flat major) One day, when the  (E flat major) tonguing is done
Gm 
Cm 
We'll  (G minor) take our leave and  (C minor) go

Interlude 2

Da da da- da da da

Da- da da da da-da- da da da

Da da da- da da da

Da- da da da da da

Verse 5

For forty days or even more

The line went slack then tight once more

All boats were lost, there were only four

Chorus 5
But still that whale did go (huh)
Ab 
Eb 
 (A flat major) Soon may the  (E flat major) Wellerman come
Fm 
Cm 
To  (F minor) bring us sugar and  (C minor) tea and rum
Ab 
Eb 
 (A flat major) One day, when the  (E flat major) tonguing is done
Gm 
Cm 
We'll  (G minor) take our leave and  (C minor) go

Verse 6

As far as I've heard, the fight's still on

The line's not cut, and the whale's not gone

The Wellerman makes his regular call

Chorus 6
To encourage the captain, crew and all
Ab 
Eb 
 (A flat major) Soon may the  (E flat major) Wellerman come
Fm 
Cm 
To  (F minor) bring us sugar and  (C minor) tea and rum
Ab 
Eb 
 (A flat major) One day, when the  (E flat major) tonguing is done
Gm 
Cm 
We'll  (G minor) take our leave and  (C minor) go

Chorus 7

Soon may the Wellerman come

To bring us sugar and tea and rum

One day, when the tonguing is done

We'll take our leave and go

2021Folk

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GuitarPianoUkulele

Ab
Eb
Fm
Cm
Gm
Ab/C
Eb/Bb
Fm/Ab

Tuning: E A D G B EDifficulty: IntermediateKey: C minorBPM: 96

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Finger positions, low to high (E A D G B e). 0 is open, x is muted.

Ab: 4-6-6-5-4-4
Eb: x-6-8-8-8-x
Fm: x-x-3-1-1-1
Cm: x-3-5-5-4-x
Gm: 3-5-5-3-3-3
Ab/C: 8-6-6-8-x-x
Eb/Bb: 6-x-8-8-8-x
Fm/Ab: 4-x-3-5-x-x

Accurately transcribed by the GuitarTuna team.

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This is the definitive original version of Wellerman by Nathan Evans, transcribed exactly as it was recorded in the studio. Unlike our simplified arrangement, this chart preserves the precise chord voicings and progressions in the original key of C minor. It is designed for guitarists ready to move past the basics and capture the true feel of Nathan Evans's performance.